Life is built on single decisions. Choose wisely.

It’s one of life coach Nikki Parekh’s mottos. That and being open to opportunities and taking leaps without fear. But when Nikki accepts her boyfriend’s casual proposal of marriage, she wonders if it’s just too soon, too spontaneous—and so sudden that she seeks out the advice of her not-so-nurturing mother, Tara.

To Nikki’s surprise, Tara, who raised her daughter to be self-sufficient, urges Nikki to trust her decision. Maybe that’s because Tara has made a headstrong decision of her own. After nearly forty years of marriage, she’s divorcing Nikki’s father. She’s already packing up an RV to search for her first love, who still looms large in Tara’s memories. So what’s a daughter to do with a runaway mother? Join her.

A layered, emotionally rich family drama exploring identity, sacrifice, and the weight of expectations. Thoughtful, compelling, and beautifully written—perfect for readers who love complex characters and nuanced storytelling.

This book was quite complex and emotional, which I think mainly came from Tara’s storyline and her position as a mother, but overall, a person of her own. Tara was my favourite character in this, and I found her story to be the part I connected to the most. She felt really real, especially in her fears and ambitions. I like where her story ended in this book and the journey from start to finish. I think if she were the central character in this book, I would’ve enjoyed this a bit more.

I also really enjoyed Nikki’s character and appreciated her being a mirror of her mother, which only amplified Tara’s fears when it seemed like Nikki was following in her footsteps. I think there may have had to be a conversation between Tara and Nikki where she confirms that she really does love Jay and isn’t going to stray from her career like Tara thought she would. I did connect to Nikki, but not as much as I did to Tara. There was some character development from her that I did like seeing, like her not trying to please and always being open to people when it was a detriment to herself. I do think there could’ve been more growth, but I think she’s just at the start of her journey.

The central part of this story for me was the mother-daughter relationship, so I didn’t mind not getting as much of Nikki and Jays relationship. I did appreciate what we did get as they seemed really sweet and comfortable with one another, like they were a safe place for each other, which I think they both needed in a relationship. The extra family drama was necessary to push the story along, but I would’ve loved to see this story focus less on the family drama of the ring and more on the road trip with Tara and Nikki to reinforce their connection and allow them to gain more insight into one another as people instead of as mother and daughter.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its beautifully emotional telling of mother-daughter relationships and the realisation that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and live your life while you’re alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Namrata Patel for this ARC!

Your Next Life is Now by Namrata Patel is a book about family but also about having the courage to be independent and put yourself first when you need to. Nikki Parekh is surprised and caught off guard when her boyfriend Jay proposes while on a walk one day, but her gut instinct is absolutely to say yes. As a life coach she believes in following her gut despite knowing that her decision will probably disappoint her mother Tara, not because she disapproves of Jay, but because she has always told her daughter to be independent and self sufficient. To her surprise Tara seems at peace with her decision, she is adamant that it is Nikki's life and her choice. This is so out of character that it worries Nikki, and for good reason, Tara who has been unhappy in her marriage for a long time has decided to leave her husband and track down her first love, a man she met briefly decades before, Worried that her mother is in the midst of a midlife crisis given her impulsive purchase of an RV to head out on her quest and the seemingly out of nowhere decision to end a marriage that Nikki had always believed to be happy, she decides to tag along, something that infuriates Jay.
I really liked both Tara and Nikki as characters, and I loved seeing their mother -daughter relationship grow over the course of the book. Tara's story in particular, which moves from her teenage years through to the current day, was heart breaking, a bright and gifted student she was accepted to a PhD programme to study astrophysics, and was relieved when the prospective husband her family found for her seemed agreeable to her continuing her studies. However the reality of married life was very different and before long she found herself a reluctant mother of two with her dreams pushed aside and the frustration this caused festered at the heart of her relationship with her husband.
What did not work quite so well for me was the rather contrived drama around a missing ring, it was an unnecessary distraction and did not add to the story in any significant way, in fact it strained my credulity and took me out of the story. I also struggled a little with the relationship between Nikki and Jay, she seemed very detached, especially in the first part of the book, and in some ways I was surprised that she accepted his proposal in the first place.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I didn't have any expectations going into this book, but boy was I wonderfully surprised by how much I loved it. Every single part of this story was enthralling, emotional, and pulled on my heart. I loved how it was told from both Tara and Nikki's povs. The way Tara's povs started from far in the past and caught up to the present was a style that I just really liked. I loved the journey for both mother and daughter and the ways they intersected. The road trip part was my favourite part of the book and I wished it lasted a bit longer. Both characters are complex, messy, but their decisions made sense based on who they are and the circumstances they're in. Tara made many mistakes, especially as a mom, but it was easy to empathize with her. Her hopelessness, yearning, lost opportunities among the cultural and familial pressures placed on her were palpable. Her journey in realizing how she was unhappy and how her choices led her to where she ended up was so well done. I loved how things wrapped up with both mother and daughter, the realizations they make along the way, it was engrossing from start to finish.

Lots of great quotes and moments in this book:

—If someone loves you, let them.

—Start from where you are. Learn from where you’ve been.

—“What about regret? That is also a powerful force.” “So is acceptance,” he said.

All in all, though, it didn’t quite land for me like The Curious Secrets of Yesterday which I loved. The two main characters stayed pretty two dimensional and everyone’s “growth” arcs seemed forced.

Will still look forward to reading more of this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book turned out to be not exactly what I had in mind when I first read the synopsis, unfortunately.
The mother-daughter relationship is there. The slowburn character-driven storyline (that I usually like) is there. The writing is, in my opinion, decent.
But I gotta admit this book went to places I neither expected or wanted to go.
Also, some side characters pulled me out of the story. And even though this is not a long book, to me, it felt longer.
The topics discussed are valid and acceptable, but I still never felt connected to the characters or to the plot as a whole.
Probably it's a 'me' thing. Hopefully, other readers will enjoy it much more than I did.

I went into this book with high expectations, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. While the premise was interesting, the pacing felt slow and the characters never fully pulled me in. The writing style was serviceable, but I often found myself disconnected from the story, and some plot points felt predictable or underdeveloped.

That said, I can see how other readers might enjoy it—especially those who like quieter, character-driven stories. For me, though, it just wasn’t engaging enough to stick with.

Out November 18th, 2025
Namrata Patel’s Your Next Life Is Now is a tender, emotionally resonant journey that explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, identity, and the courage to rewrite one’s story. Life coach Nikki Parekh, usually the one guiding others through transformation, finds herself at a crossroads after impulsively accepting a marriage proposal. Her mother Tara, meanwhile, is making a bold move of her own—divorcing after forty years and chasing a long-lost love. Their shared road trip becomes more than a physical journey; it’s a soulful excavation of regrets, dreams, and the unspoken wounds that shaped them.

The novel shines brightest in its portrayal of generational tension and cultural expectations within Indian-American families. Patel’s alternating chapters between Nikki and Tara offer rich insight into how differently they process love, duty, and ambition. Tara’s backstory—her abandoned academic dreams and quiet sacrifices—adds depth and empathy to her character, while Nikki’s struggle to reconcile her independence with vulnerability feels raw and relatable. The highs include beautifully written flashbacks and moments of unexpected tenderness between the two women. However, some readers may find the emotional miscommunication between characters frustrating, and the road trip element, while promising, doesn’t receive the spotlight it deserves.

Despite its occasional narrative detours, Your Next Life Is Now is a heartfelt ode to second chances and the power of self-discovery. Patel doesn’t shy away from the messiness of family or the bittersweet nature of growth. Instead, she invites readers to sit in the discomfort, laugh through the awkwardness, and celebrate the quiet triumphs. It’s a story that reminds us that it’s never too late to choose differently—and that sometimes, the most healing journeys begin with a leap into the unknown.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC!

what worked (for me) -
Tara's backstory chapters, how her life was shaped by what was expected of her from her indian-american society
Tara's and Nikki's complicated mother-daughter relationship, one where the daughter feels responsible for the mother's emotional regulation, Tara's want to live vicariously through her children and shape them by holding off her approval of them when they disappoint her with their life choices even as adults (taken directly from any Indian parent's hand book lol)

what didn't work (for me) -
the characters miscommunicating and being frustrating throughout the book
Tara's character growth seemed rushed and inorganic
the family drama is distracting from our main characters’ character arcs

what couldve been better-
I wanted more of the road trip part of the plot, which would've been a fun adventure but also just slice of life, mother and daughter getting to see each other in a new light

This novel, from a notable Indian author, chronicles the lives of two generations of an Indian family living in the United States. The protagonist, Tara, is a second-generation Indian American who begins her marriage with aspirations of completing her Ph.D. at MIT. Her academic pursuits are ultimately set aside to prioritize her family and husband's career. This experience motivates her to ensure her daughters, Heena and Nikki, are not subjected to the samd B2 e traditional constraints. The narrative critically examines the societal pressures and expectations placed on a wife, as she is expected to be dutiful and docile. This is an emotionally poignant book that will appeal to readers of family-centric dramas.
Thank you, Netgalley, for sharing a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed herein are my own.

Road trip + Motherhood + Real characters = ???? Sign me up and I'm in. This book is a masterclass in writing a mother-daughter relationship. Read it!
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

*Your Next Life Is Now* is short, sharp, and surprisingly deep—like a little literary gem disguised as light reading. Clocking in at under 100 pages, it packs in reflections that genuinely stick with you. A lot of readers called it “feel-good” reading—no drama, no cliffhangers, just a soothing, thoughtful vibe when you need a calm reset ([reddit.com][1]).

It’s structured around a central concept: how your thoughts shape your life experiences. As one reader put it, the book is “concise and short, though tone is mystical but will make sense if you are mindful” ([reddit.com][2]). The writing is straightforward—no fluff, just the kind of ideas that nudge you to stop scrolling and actually think.


If you’re in a slump and craving a moment of clarity, or if you’re curious about how small mindset shifts might ripple into your life, this is a great little companion. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s thoughtful and refreshing—perfect if you want something short that leaves a quiet impact.

The writing for this one was good. Unfortunately I felt like the synopsis didn’t accurately depict what I was getting into. I thought there would be more adventure because of the roadtrip aspect but it was such a small portion of the boom. It was beautifully deep and a good mother daughter story. Just not what I was expecting.

Life coach Nikki Parekh impulsively says yes to a proposal, then questions her decision, only to find her mother, Tara, making a bold move of her own: divorcing after 40 years to chase an old flame. As they journey together, both women confront the past, uncover hidden truths, and rediscover themselves, mile by mile.

It started off great, I was really interested, and it had a good premise, but things got derailed towards the end. It was trying to be too many things at once, meeting parents' expectations, unhappy marriages, side effects of arranged marriage, commitment issues, dreams, family drama… and more!

I believe this book would have ended had everyone had basic communication skills! And many times it infuriated me just because it was encouraging things I’m against of like deserting your husband and kids for a boy you met one night and built a whole fantasy land with him.

I also didn’t like how little we know about the characters; we never uncover how Nikki got to be a life coach, even though her mother had other plans for her, and what business she owned. Also, I didn’t like how Tara’s whole personality is science (or was it physics?), it felt like I was watching TMKOC (for instance, Goli’s whole personality is his obsession with food)

Though the cover and description suggest that the road trip would be central to the plot, it barely had any screen time, kind of like Taapsee Pannu’s screen time in Baby.

Overall, I’m disappointed (sorry not sorry, Ik how hard it is to write a novel). A good read for…idk what exactly. :/

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

When Jay proposed to Nikki in the first chapter of this story, I had no idea what to expect for the rest of the book. The flashbacks from Nikki’s mom Tara gave such a nice twist to the story. Tara is divorcing her husband after feeling unhappy her entire marriage and is now on a road trip to finding herself. Meanwhile, Nikki has to figure out what this decision of her mom is doing to her own life and decide whether she is happy moving forward on the same path. I loved the family drama and the mystery element, that added so much to the vibe of the book!

3.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this book and all of the difficult topics it touched on. For me, this story is primarily about how many young women are forced to live up to preconceived expectations, thus limiting their ability to follow their dreams. This often coincides with early marriage and parenthood, leading to mothers who resent their children and children who feel unloved by their mothers.

I really appreciated how the mom in this story was not made out to be the bad guy. The flashbacks helped me sympathize with her character and I was able to understand why she made the decisions she did.

The writing however felt a bit dry and the plot wasn’t very gripping. But, overall this was an enjoyable and timely read from an author new to me.

This book had me deep in my feelings, with the added bonus of a mystery I couldn’t put down. The author did a great job making both Nikki and Tara relatable, helping me understand and empathize with each of them without picking sides. I also loved the parallels between Tara, Nikki, and Heena’s lives.

The flashbacks to Tara’s past were especially powerful—they really showed how her choices shaped not only her own path, but the lives of those around her. Jay and Nikki’s relationship was frustrating at times due to their lack of communication and stubbornness, but their love kept them trying, which made their story feel real.

I appreciated that the resolution wasn’t too tidy. Instead of everything being perfectly fixed, the characters found acceptance and showed they were willing to keep growing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

this one was a mixed bag for me. i really appreciated the themes around family expectations, identity, and how the past echoes into the present — especially through the alternating timelines, which added some great emotional texture. tara’s chapters stood out more for me, and i liked how her decisions rippled out and shaped so many lives. but i struggled to connect with nikki, and the romance with jay just didn’t land — it lacked the chemistry or depth to feel believable. while the ending felt grounded and honest, the characters often felt a bit too distant, which kept me from fully investing. solid ideas, but it didn’t quite hit for me.

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. The main character that we're supposed to be following and rooting for is so cold and rigid that it's hard to feel anything for her. It's unclear why her partner is so devoted to her when she seems pretty detached from their relationship for most of the book. Her job sounds interesting, but the unclear and underdeveloped aspects of how she got into it and became popular make it difficult to determine if her actions matter. The mother is more interesting, but she's written to be so smart and deep however nothing she's done matches up to her description either.

Overall, I think this probably wasn't for me. There was a story in here that I would've liked more and it was likely a deeper dive into either the mother or the main character's relationships but instead they were both cold and unfeeling which was how I felt when I finished the book.