This is one of the most talked about books of 2025. Pick any publication, look at any kind of listings discussing noteworthy books of the recent times and you would find this book. It has been touted as a brutally honest coming-of-age account of an immigrant girl in early years of 21st century.
It is story of Nila who at age nineteen has almost quit her education or pursuit of any meaningful career. For such a young age, she is a voracious reader of philosophical and classical books especially Kafka. But she is not keen on studying philosophy in which she has enrolled just to placate her parents. Instead, she is happy reading the liberal, classical fiction, thereby getting heavily influenced by the life and times of Kafa and other authors with similar world views.
Her parents, on the other hand, do not have the idle luxury to wallow in the philosophical doom as they have to navigate more practical matters of the world like establishing themselves in a foreign land, settling themselves as immigrants speaking a foreign language and restart their lives in a faraway place for the sake of their daughter. Once upon a time they followed their dream of entering medical profession which they had to abandon while seeking asylum in an unknown country. So, they have only one mission in life- that is to survive and see their daughter thrive.
Unfortunately for them, their only child- Nila is hellbent on finding meaning of life on her own terms. She is gripped with identity crisis and could not place herself correctly in the society she is living in. She is too ashamed to admit her birth identity, her lost heritage, her language and even her relations. Therefore, she is seeking to establish herself as one of the modern, forward-thinking feminists who reads certain kind of books, loves arts and is in love with artistic pursuits. Even though she is aware in her hearts of hearts that it might not be the right way to pursue her passion of arts and photography, still she is insistent of spending restless nights drugged, hung over and with multiple unknown older men.
On one such eventful night, she crosses path with an American one-hit-wonder-writer called Marlowe. There is nothing charming about him besides his pseudointellectual aura and socially adaptable clout. Like his friends who are always circling and fawning over him, she also comes under his enigmatic spell. He opens doors for her and lets her be part of concerts, festivals and social gatherings of artistic community. But by the time she realizes that there is a narcissistic, control freak sadist hiding behind his chameleon persona, it is almost too late.
Not only the ugly truth behind his personality emerges but she also has to face racial tensions around her childhood neighborhood. Both of which she has ignored all those years and is never ready to come to terms with. It’s nothing to do with her parents, friends or well wishers but more with her acceptance of her reality in this alien place.
It’s interesting to read her metamorphosis from an irresponsible, fun loving, party girl to a responsible woman embarking on a meaningful journey. This part of the book is definitely worth waiting for when she takes control of her life and decides to make a positive lasting impact. Although her parents are not happy with her career choice, they are at least relieved that she has chosen a saner, regular life shunning troublesome adolescent years.
Indeed, it’s not an easy read specially if you are not familiar with the bustling night life scenes, party culture, artistic circles and getting high on one’s youth. It’s equally difficult read to understand nuances of immigrant lives, for struggles of readjusting and surviving in an unknown county and to dream your unfulfilled dreams through your children’s eyes. Either way, this book is worth spending your time on if you are looking for gritty and gripping coming-of-age story.