Charming and uplifting book with strong well written characters. Made me smile. Thank you the ARC. This a book that would be perfect for a beach read.

This was a lovely charming and quaint book. It was very resemblant to the exotic marigold hotel film and was a gorgeous flowing gentle read. The characters were wonderful and the descriptions were so lovely. Mani owns the apartment and he is being strong armed to sell it for it to be bulldozed by developers. The inhabitants are all sad at this prospect as they are a good loyal community to each other.
Read this and you will feel the sun warming you and you will be hungry for dosas.
Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is an engaging novel about life in Chennai for the residents of a small apartment block and their friends as they resist a wealthy property developer who is hoping to redevelop the site. The residents are a diverse group of people who are skillfully and sensitively brought to life by author Hema Sukumar, highlighting cultural and generational issues within families and in wider society at a time of rapid social and economic change. I especially liked the culinary references, and both urban and rural landscapes were very well depicted. Altogether, Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Appartments is a captivating read.

Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments - Hema Sukumar

This is a delightful book set in an apartment complex in Chennai, India. Told from different perspectives

- Kamala, a 55-year-old single mother to a daughter Lakshmi, who is studying at Oxford in the UK. Her best friend Sundu is a fiery and loyal friend and often pops by.

- Revathi (Reva) a single 32-year-old, whose mother keeps asking her when she is getting married.

- Jason, from the UK, who moved to Chennai because of an intense breakup, and he needed a change. He starts working at a fusion restaurant in a fancy hotel.

Other people

- Mani - the owner of the building. He loves to entertain and often hangs out with one or more of the neighbours. Next door a new building is popping up, and they keep bothering Mani with increasing hostility to sell.

- Poons - resident cat.

I have never been to India, and I thought it was a really lovely book that showed a lot of glimpses of Chennai and India within the minutiae of the daily lives. The details of all the snacks and foods were great. Left me really hungry and searching for South Indian restaurants in my area.

All of Hema's characters were well developed and all of them had growth. I was really rooting for Reva and Kamala and Jason. It was a lovely atmospheric book and will absolutely read anything else Hema writes. If there a sequel to this, I would also read it.

I've heard the audiobook is coming later this year and will absolutely be listening to that for all the correct pronunciations of Tamil.

Atmospheric, Affectionate…
The Grand Life Apartments, set in beautifully lush greenery on the coast in the city of Chennai, is an oasis for those who inhabit them. All of the residents have their own story but they soon have a story in common - the fight to preserve their beloved home. With a deft pen the author draws an atmospheric picture - a setting so real that the reader can almost reach out to touch it - and a cast of exquisitely and affectionately crafted characters. A delight.

Minor Disturbances is a beautiful tapestry of different cultures and generations of family, friendships and personal struggles all woven into an engaging story. The writing is so vivid, I could imagine myself in the apartment block in Chennai.

The Grand Life Apartments are under threat from an ever-encroaching construction company.

Strangely enough, the residents don't appear to be as bothered as they should. They've all got other pressing matters in their personal lives.

And they're such nice people, you hope that things work out for them...