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Grown-Up Pose
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A delightfully modern look at what happens for a young woman when tradition, dating, and independence collide, from acclaimed author Sonya Lalli.
Adulting shouldnt be this hard. Especially in your thirties. Having been pressured by her tight-knit community to get married at a young age to her first serious boyfriend, Anu Desai is now on her own again and feels like she is ...more
Adulting shouldnt be this hard. Especially in your thirties. Having been pressured by her tight-knit community to get married at a young age to her first serious boyfriend, Anu Desai is now on her own again and feels like she is ...more
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This is sweet, charming, emotional and also a motivational reading
Growing up is not only a physical thing. You need to open yourself to grow mentally by experiencing new things, learning new life lessons, touching peoples lives. But its mostly about discovering who you are, what you want to do with your life and what makes you happy. So in my opinion Sonya Lalli chose a very good subject and work on the story of Anu Desai, still young and is imposed to believe that growing up means being ...more
Growing up is not only a physical thing. You need to open yourself to grow mentally by experiencing new things, learning new life lessons, touching peoples lives. But its mostly about discovering who you are, what you want to do with your life and what makes you happy. So in my opinion Sonya Lalli chose a very good subject and work on the story of Anu Desai, still young and is imposed to believe that growing up means being ...more
I enjoyed Sonya Lallis first book, The Matchmakers List, and could not wait to read Grown-Up Pose.
Anu is in her thirties and is feeling the pressure to get married. Shes been married before, at a young age, due to the demands from her family and community. That marriage ended in divorce and Anu has a young daughter and her own yoga studio. Ahh, yoga!
Grown-Up Pose addresses some important issues, including finding oneself and juggling the demands of life, while also immersing the reader in an ...more
Anu is in her thirties and is feeling the pressure to get married. Shes been married before, at a young age, due to the demands from her family and community. That marriage ended in divorce and Anu has a young daughter and her own yoga studio. Ahh, yoga!
Grown-Up Pose addresses some important issues, including finding oneself and juggling the demands of life, while also immersing the reader in an ...more
Adulting is definitely overrated! Sonya Lalli has written a clever story full of heart and humor about the complexities of being an adult. Anu is in her 30s a wife, a mother, and a good daughter. But Anu isnt sure this is what she wants, or that this is who she is. Was she so busy making everybody else happy and living up to cultural expectations that she forgot about herself? Then after she is tempted by another man at a work party, she begins to really question everything. What follows is a
...more
I received an ARC from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I love Sonya Lalli's books but if you didn't like The Matchmaker's List, this book might not be for you as it features similar themes and characters. Our main heroine is a mess despite her being a "grown-up" with a mortgage, a child, and a husband she takes very good care of. She has lost direction in what she wants to do, what she wants, and questions whether or not she missed out by only dating and marrying ...more
I love Sonya Lalli's books but if you didn't like The Matchmaker's List, this book might not be for you as it features similar themes and characters. Our main heroine is a mess despite her being a "grown-up" with a mortgage, a child, and a husband she takes very good care of. She has lost direction in what she wants to do, what she wants, and questions whether or not she missed out by only dating and marrying ...more
I should've DNFed. I wanted to read this for the desi rep, and that was pretty much all I liked. The writing was cringeworthy and referenced pop culture at random times (for example: the MC once says, "It's easier to just let it be." Then she smirks and says "Like the Beatles!" The book is full of odd tangents like that. Its weird).
The pacing and plot were all over the place. Unlike the blurbs emphasis, the yoga place isnt that important. It was kinda just... there? Im still not sure why it had ...more
The pacing and plot were all over the place. Unlike the blurbs emphasis, the yoga place isnt that important. It was kinda just... there? Im still not sure why it had ...more
Anusha has always been the good Indian wife and daughter, never questioning her familys demands or asking herself what she wants from her own life. But when she is tempted to kiss a coworker one night, she realizes she cant stop ignoring her own unhappiness. She decides then and there to start following her heart, even if it leads her away from the comfortable life shes created for herself.
MY THOUGHTS
Dont let the cartoony cover fool you This is actually a surprisingly serious (but hopeful) story ...more
MY THOUGHTS
Dont let the cartoony cover fool you This is actually a surprisingly serious (but hopeful) story ...more
My problem with the book is that the main character is like a thirteen year old girl and it doesn't get better.
Nah, I just cannot feel the goodness, the romance, the feels. It's just too chatty. Of course, I had to expect that for such a book but I just cannot stand the drama of thirty year old adult women behaving like thirteen year olds getting too overexcited over touching and kissing right from the first chapter. No, it didn't happen between the women😁
I love drama, I love romance, I love ...more
Nah, I just cannot feel the goodness, the romance, the feels. It's just too chatty. Of course, I had to expect that for such a book but I just cannot stand the drama of thirty year old adult women behaving like thirteen year olds getting too overexcited over touching and kissing right from the first chapter. No, it didn't happen between the women😁
I love drama, I love romance, I love ...more
Song/s the book brought to mind: Hey Girl by Lady Gaga and Florence Welch
Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read The Matchmaker's List even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter ...more
Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read The Matchmaker's List even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter ...more
When differing cultural practices collide
Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards ...more
Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards ...more
It's a yikes from me.
It was a good read.
Really enjoyable book! I got swept up in Anus journey as she figured out who she was and what she wanted, and the conclusion was heartwarming and gave me all the feels. Highly recommend.
...more
Mar 26, 2020
Mana
added it
Damn. Maye its the quarantine, but this book was fantastic. It really took me back to a time where I could leave the house. Do you guys remember that? Traveling outside of ones home/neighborhood/city/country? Wild. But forreal, there was a lot of travel and large group gatherings, which is nice. A lot of books have solitary characters who think a lot, which is often interesting, but not during a quarantine.
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural ...more
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural ...more
Grown-up Pose was a highly enjoyable novel that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good story, endearing narrator, and well-paced plotline. The story will be relatable to many who hit 30 and find themselves questioning the path theyve chosen so far. This book is really about finding oneself and living an authentic life rather than making choices based on external expectations. However, that theme is explored in an accessible and enjoyable way - unlike some writers who feel the need to
...more
This book wasnt the worst read and definitely isnt a bad choice if you want something a little bit on the fluffier side, but its definitely got some issues with the amount of content in the book. Ill keep it spoiler free since I got an ARC but there was too many side characters that felt underdeveloped/didnt get enough time. The author should have added a few more chapters, or merged/cut a few characters so they didnt feel so rushed and neglected.
I also think this book was marketed a bit oddly ...more
I also think this book was marketed a bit oddly ...more
I was quite excited for this book after I read its synopsis .
Unfortunately this didn't work for me !
Unfortunately this didn't work for me !
This book had me from start to finish. Heartwarming, hilarious, and well-executed. Lalli has a special talent in that she can create a protagonist who is both endearing and flawed at the same time. I really felt for Anu and was cheering for her to succeed, while simultaneously feeling frustrated at some of her choices. I think that is part of what makes this book great - it doesn't pretend like people are perfect and life is one smooth journey. Instead, it tells a heartfelt story about the bumps
...more
Grow up poses plot was as lost as the main protagonist, it felt that it was grasping at many different concepts but never really emotionally invested in one. The characters mostly felt like caricatures, the snarky bestfriend group, the overprotective mothers and the early mid life crises protagonist.
I kept reading because not many chick lit novels are based in Vancouver, nice to have a lay of the land. It read breezy, and inconsequential. Nothing much to gain here. ...more
I kept reading because not many chick lit novels are based in Vancouver, nice to have a lay of the land. It read breezy, and inconsequential. Nothing much to gain here. ...more
I firmly believe that every woman needs a slut phase. I said what I said. Now Im going to explain it. When I say slut phase, what I really mean is starting to figure out who you are, what you want in life and especially what you dont want in life. Experimenting with sex, flirting with different hobbies and activities and establishing what your passion in life is. Anu Desi has never had her slut phase or an experimental phase. Shes always been the good girl, whose followed her close-knit Indian
...more
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Grown Up Pose is a romance book beginning with separation. Told interspersed with memories of the past, it's a story about both figuring out what went wrong in our relationship, and how we can fix it. Grown Up Pose focuses on Anu's journey of self re-discovery. At the same time, it's focused on her Indian family (and family in law) who constantly challenge her ideas of tradition ...more
Grown Up Pose is a romance book beginning with separation. Told interspersed with memories of the past, it's a story about both figuring out what went wrong in our relationship, and how we can fix it. Grown Up Pose focuses on Anu's journey of self re-discovery. At the same time, it's focused on her Indian family (and family in law) who constantly challenge her ideas of tradition ...more
I think Sonya Lalli has a knack for writing characters who are at difficult crossroads in their lives. Shes not afraid for them to be flawed nor fall down flat on their faces because theyll eventually pick themselves up after much soul searching. Grown-Up Pose spoke to me on so many levels and I enjoyed going along on Anus journey.
...more
Mar 29, 2020
Bookishbrookeish
marked it as dnf
I wont rate this book since I didnt finish it, but here is what didnt work for me:
- unlikeable narrator
- main character and her friends all seem kind of selfish
- cheating/blindsiding spouse by leaving just isnt a storyline I usually like ...more
- unlikeable narrator
- main character and her friends all seem kind of selfish
- cheating/blindsiding spouse by leaving just isnt a storyline I usually like ...more
Apr 07, 2020
Jaclyn
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
asian-writers-read-in-2020
Sweet and moving women's fiction. I so rarely find books about women having a mid-life crisis moment (pre-mid-life crisis?) at 30, and even rarer to find one about an Asian woman with traditional immigrant parents. So I love that this book exists.
This book was charming from start to finish! Anu has followed rules and tradition her whole life until now. A wonderful story that follows Anu as she navigates a separation, being a mom, and finding her identity.
Anus journey kept me so intrigued, I stayed up past midnight to finish it. It was real, raw, and human. Her story with Neil, as well as her parents and his mother was compelling, and her quest to figure out who she really was is something done beautifully. She made mistakes, but she needed to. Love her friends, and daughter too! Important issues were also handled very well.
...more
What was the reason?? Such a frustrating read, I didn't like anything except Anusha relationship with her parents.
Winner of an ARC
I stayed up so late reading this! I just couldnt put it down and got so upset when I had to during the day to deal with real life responsibilities *sigh*. It wasnt at all what I was really expecting, it was so much more! I loved the message of the book that at no matter what age you are, youre always still growing. It never stops, and you just have to learn to grow as life goes on and new things happen.
The explanations on Indian culture were great for someone like me who does not ...more
I stayed up so late reading this! I just couldnt put it down and got so upset when I had to during the day to deal with real life responsibilities *sigh*. It wasnt at all what I was really expecting, it was so much more! I loved the message of the book that at no matter what age you are, youre always still growing. It never stops, and you just have to learn to grow as life goes on and new things happen.
The explanations on Indian culture were great for someone like me who does not ...more
Overall reaction: Promising presence, less than stellar execution.
While this book isn't necessarily bad, the story does have a lack of focus. There are so many side characters that don't get enough development and end up coming off one dimensional; the reader is told how many of these characters are supposed to be, but there's a lack of on page support of this characterization (the best example being Anu's parents, who never come off as pressuring as they're made out to be). The plot also has a ...more
While this book isn't necessarily bad, the story does have a lack of focus. There are so many side characters that don't get enough development and end up coming off one dimensional; the reader is told how many of these characters are supposed to be, but there's a lack of on page support of this characterization (the best example being Anu's parents, who never come off as pressuring as they're made out to be). The plot also has a ...more
3.5 stars. Not exactly what I was expecting but this is a nice story about learning to appreciate your family even when they are driving you nuts. Thats what I took from it but others may have focused on the parts where she starts her own business...or the parts where she tries to live a carefree life with no responsibilities that she feels like she missed by marrying at a young age. So my criticism would be that its a bit all over the place.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC. ...more
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC. ...more
Absolutely fabulous!
I felt like a lot of the characters had amazing
layers and some of them have unfinished story so I hope that there will be other books with those characters in mind, but it was an amazing story of motherhood, friendship,,and self discovery.
I felt like a lot of the characters had amazing
layers and some of them have unfinished story so I hope that there will be other books with those characters in mind, but it was an amazing story of motherhood, friendship,,and self discovery.
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Sonya Lalli is a Canadian writer of Indian heritage. She studied law in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and at Columbia University in New York City. She completed an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at City University London in 2015, and currently works as a journalist at a legal magazine in London. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves travel, yoga, piano, reading and
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