Such Big Dreams

“Cynical, street-smart Rakhi . . . is a sharply drawn protagonist [who] gives this novel power and zest.”—Kirkus Reviews “An astonishingly gifted storyteller, Reema Patel writes with a confidence, insight, and skill that belies her status as a debut novelist. A smart, haunting, compulsively readable novel with tightly woven plot and an unforgettable narrator, Such Big Dreams is a gripping story you’ll want to simultaneously race through at breakneck speed and slow down to savor every word.”—Amy Jones, author of We’re All in This Together “From the very first page, Such Big Dreams grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Patel’s prose jumps with energy, plunging the reader into a page-turner of a story that doesn’t shy away from exploring hard and painful truths about the way people navigate the systemic conditions of society. With assured writing, Patel explores themes ranging from societal elitism to the nuances of interpersonal betrayal. Visceral and kinetic, Such Big Dreams is a splash of a debut.”—Zalika Reid-Benta, author of Frying Plantain “Such Big Dreams charts the ambitions, disappointments, and dreams of two people who are improbably thrust together as they try to find their way in—and make their mark on—a bustling Mumbai that’s indifferent to their struggles. Unflinching yet written with compassion and insight, Such Big Dreams is a richly textured and powerful novel that, like Mumbai itself, pulsates with humanity. Patel is a writer to watch. I absolutely loved this book.”—Bianca Marais, author of Hum If You Don’t Know the Words “Mumbai has inspired many great novels about the city, and now we can add Patel’s Such Big Dreams to that list. Her portrayal of Mumbai is fresh, vivid, and personal, in part because of the book’s charming and perceptive narrator, Rakhi. I finished the book with a sigh of regret, feeling already the loss of Rakhi and the gift of Patel’s Mumbai.”—Shyam Selvadurai, author of Funny Boy “Debut novelist 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.”—Booklist “Patel’s riveting debut examines the exploitive class structure in Mumbai and the pitfalls for those on the lower rung. . . . With a captivating arc . . . the story highlights the impact of greed in a poverty-stricken Mumbai. It’s a powerful debut.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)