Such Big Dreams

Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel

326 Pages

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Release Date: May 10, 2022

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Multicultural, India, Mumbai

Rakhi has had a hard life. Her parents were killed when she was a child, and she was forced to live on the street. At twelve years old, was placed in a girls’ home. The woman, Gauri Ma’am, who sent her to the home promised Rakhi a job if she stayed at the home until she finished school. Once she left the home, she began working at a human rights law office doing lowly office work (making tea and running errands). She learned English and lived in her own apartment but must follow all the rules of the office to satisfy her boss. After being caught stealing, she goes to counseling and promises not to do it again.

When Alex, a Canadian college student, comes to work as an intern, he tells Rakhi she could be so much more. He fills her with dreams of going to college and working in the hotel industry. Alex is part Indian, so he wants to be accepted as Indian but uses his White male first world country privilege in the poor country. She begins taking Alex around Mumbai but her two worlds begin to collide. He is related to the woman Rakhi stole from and when he finds out things get ugly quickly.

The book has a good pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the first person point of view. Rakhi is a relatable character and as a survivor, does whatever it takes to live. The hierarchy and treatment of personnel in the law office is believable. This book is emotional from start to finish. The author shows the strength of Rakhi’s character in her writing. If you like multicultural books, you will enjoy reading this one.