The Shape of Family by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

I forgot to charge my Kindle the other day, but my iPad was fully charged.  Since it was, I headed into Hoopla to see what choices were available and compared them off my Goodreads to-read list.  The Shape of Family had been on there for awhile and since it wasn't a very recent release, I was able to download it on the spot.

Jaya, Keith, Karina, and Prem are a typical family, living the American Dream in California and blending Jaya's Indian heritage with Keith's American one.  But tragedy strikes the family and the remaining members struggle to find their way forward.  When Karina finally leaves for college, her choices draw them back together in an effort to save her too.

I really can't say enough good things about The Shape of Family. Really, my only complaint is that it sat on my to-read list for a couple of years and I missed it until just now.  I sat down to start it and ended up reading it in one go, the mark of a great story.  The author does an amazing job integrating Jaya's Indian culture into the story and balancing it against Keith's American upbringing in how they integrate as a family and then grieve together.  Karina's story really shows how childhood tragedies have a lasting impact, and the need for stronger mental health support.

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