Status Updates From Keya Das's Second Act

Why am I still reading this? Hell if I know. Initially there was a silly but mildly diverting major storyline and an unbelievably poorly written secondary story line. Those came together, forming a conglomeration of underwritten (or possibly simply boring) characters, TERRIBLE dialogue, and absurd plot. Also, the director of the play they stage makes Margo Channing look like a subtly drawn has-been.

This is becoming a hate read. Other than the rules for musicians looking for orchestra jobs on Broadway and the experience of having a birthday at Medieval Times not one thing in this book has held a whisper of truth. Deb appears to have no understanding of humans and how they interact. Everyone behaves like they are on a reality show or some horrible Netflix original. Does no one research anymore?

This is moving from not good to bad. The primary story is a little meh and a lot improbable but it is not unpleasant. There is a second storyline which is the backstory of the romantic interest of Mitali (the daughter in the primary family) which is so relentlessly clunky and over-the-top and poorly written and stupid it is sapping the tiny bit of charm the main story had going for it.