Kistmat Connection by Ananya Devarajan: A Review

This week I'm thrilled to be able to review this wonderful book which was gifted to me by Harper YA 360. When I realised that this was an option for application this quarter I was so excited. The synopsis of this book had everything I wanted and more with topics ranging from coming of age to racism in modern-day society.

Is book is Devarajan’s first book and it's a wonderful debut. I felt that it was perfect in the way it was written presenting everything clearly and leaving enough to the imagination. I also really enjoyed how fleshed out every single character was. One thing that I really look for in a book is whole fleshed-out characters that aren't boring or flat and this one hit the spot. Appreciate the way that she presents some of the more real-life topics. 

It's a beautifully diverse book that perfectly presents what it feels like to be in a minority. One thing that hit quite close to home was the internalized racism that modern society can put on people, and I can sympathize with Madhuri in that sense. I also really liked the way that the idea of family conflict was presented, with full transparency and none of the picture-perfect family stereotypes. I think that Devarajan does a brilliant job of presenting issues that many young people today face.

I really really enjoyed the ‘childhood friends to lovers’ arc that this pair experienced. I feel like every scene with Arjun and Midhuri was well-written and had a simple yet elegant kind of flair to it. I really enjoy the way that the family and friends relationships are conveyed because it can be something that is washed down a lot in other novels.

Overall I love this book so much and it really does paint the most accurate picture. I really hope that we see more from Devarajan in the future!

Happy reading,

Mei xxx